Title: Between Father & Son

Summary: When Sakura leaves for a girl's night out with Ino, Sasuke is left alone for the first time to care for their infant son. He dreads not being a good father. But as he spends time with the baby, he comes to realize this is his opportunity to build a better family.

Disclaimer: Naruto is Kishi's creation.

Rating: K+ or mild T to be safe.

Please review :) I am having too much fun with this family.

This could not be happening. It just couldn't.

Sasuke stood dumbfounded and irritated at the door of the bathroom as he watched his wife fix her hair and seemingly ignore his pleas and arguments.

She finished smoothing down her coral locks, and seeming pleased with her light application of makeup and pretty top and skirt, shut off the light and walked passed the Uchiha.

Sasuke turned on his heel and followed her down the corridor of the large Uchiha mansion, a scowl on his normally stoic features as he glared at the back of the woman's head.

Sakura entered their bedroom to finish gathering a few things before taking her leave. She mentally made a list of much money she needed to take for her night out with Ino.

"Stop ignoring me!" He snarled, crossing his arms over his broad chest as he glared at her back some more. "You can't leave me alone with the baby! He's only two months old and he needs his mother! You're not even totally recovered yet from his birth!"

Sakura rolled her eyes at his petty arguments.

Honestly, what is wrong with him? Can't he just watch their son for one night while she goes out? All she's been doing for the last few months is work at the hospital and care for the baby, for Kami's sake, while he's been away on missions.

He could watch Itachi for one night and actually spend time with him.

Sakura finished packing her purse and slipping some kunai into her pouch. Being a kunoichi, you can never be too careful.

She turned to face the brooding Uchiha and glared, her emerald eyes becoming green slits as she stood her ground, placing her hands on her hips.

Sasuke inwardly smirked, pleased with this. He was used to people either kissing the ground he walked on or backing down in fear, away from his penetrating and intimidating gaze.

He loved the challenge of this spitfire woman.

Sakura was the only one who wasn't intimidated by his anger. She never backed down, always standing her ground, ready to face him head on.

That was one of the many things that he loved about her.

When she was like this, angry, challenging, and all dolled up, she was so incredibly sexy.

How he wanted to throw her on the bed ravish her again. They hadn't been able to have intercourse in months and it was killing him.

But soon she would be completely healed from the birth and he could have his delicious way with her once more. He resisted the urge to lick his lips in anticipation, remembering the situation at hand.

"Okay. First that is a load of bull. You've been out a lot since he was born, off on week long solo missions or always at the police station or out training with Naruto. I have been stuck either in this house, caring for our son day and night, or working at the hospital. I am exhausted and think I deserve a night off. You're just being selfish, Sasuke-kun. You can care for him for one fucking night. Ino and I haven't seen each other in months and we're going on a girl's night out. She's my best friend, I want to spend time with her."

Sasuke's jaw clenched. "You have a responsibility to Itachi. He's only an infant, he needs you around-"

"Oh cut the bullshit, Sasuke!" She seethed, hands trembling in rage, releasing her legendary temper.

He gulped. When Sakura dropped the affectionate -kun from his name, he knew he was in deep shit.

"I know my duty, thank you! I only birthed him and care for him 24/7while you're off playing hero! How many times have you changed his diaper since he was born? Twice! How many times in the past two months have you gotten up when he wakes up crying at three in the morning? Once and only because I kicked you out of bed! I've done everything for him so don't you dare stand there and tell me what I have or haven't done. You've hardly even helped me with your son!"

The dark haired man looked down in shame. It is true he hasn't been very attentive lately, but he had a reason for it.

"I'm sorry," he finally said, cutting the tension in the room. "I know I've been gone a lot lately. But I just don't think it's a good idea for you to leave me alone with him."

Her anger simmered down a bit but not completely. Sakura huffed and crossed the room to stand in front of him.

"I deserve a few hours to spend with my best friend, Sasuke. I need a break. But more importantly, you need to bond with Itachi. If you don't start now, then it'll only weaken your relationship with him as he gets older. I know that isn't what you want for him. I thought you wanted to be an involved parent? To be different from your father and actually be there for your son?"

Sasuke swallowed uncomfortably as an image of his late stoic father flashed in his mind's eye. Fugaku Uchiha had been a man with a powerful presence that commanded respect, an ever present frown on on his serious features, and intense dark eyes that made the bravest of men back down in fear-eyes that Sasuke inherited and used to do the same.

All he'd ever wanted was for Fugaku to acknowledge him and treat him like a father should treat his son. But when he wasn't only praising Itachi, the Uchiha patriarch was always busy with clan affairs. He never had time to raise his sons, leaving that task to their mother and the servants.

The ex-avenger had resented his father a bit as a child. The only good memories he had with the man were a few of his father holding him as a toddler, and when he finally called him his son and praised him for mastering the fire jutsu of their clan so quickly.

He'd doubted if Fugaku even loved him for a long time, despite his mother's reassurances that he did.

He now knew his father had, but it was too late. He did not want to be that kind of father to Itachi. He didn't want his son to resent him or question if Sasuke even loved him.

"I do. More than anything," he whispered, lowering his steeled expression. His arms fell down to his sides and he turned his face away from her, feeling shame and confusion eating away at him.

Sakura softened slightly. She gently cupped his cheek and turned his face to meet her concerned emerald eyes, no longer lit up with rage.

"Then what's this really about?" She questioned softly.

The shinobi exhaled, coming to terms that his angry rant about her duty as a mother or his worrying for her health weren't going to convince her. Sakura knew him, oftentimes better than he knew himself, and she saw through his angry facade. He had no choice then to confide in her his true reasons.

He leaned his face into her soft, warm hand, enjoying the contact, relaxing into her touch.

He closed his eyes and was quiet for a long moment, choosing his words carefully.

Sakura said nothing, only continued to cradle his face and wait.

"I don't want to hurt him. And I don't want Itachi to grow up hating me," he finally admitted softly, opening his eyes to see her reaction to his words.

Utter disbelief crossed her pretty features and her mouth opened slightly in shock at his revelation.

Sakura knew he was insecure about being a father but she never imagined it was to this extent.

She reached forward and brought his head to her shoulder, wrapping her arms around his shoulders and stroked his hair as she always did whenever he was upset.

"That will never happen, Sasuke-kun," she quietly promised, her previous anger now replaced with concern and gentle understanding.

His arms snaked around her waist and he buried his nose into her sweet smelling hair, her scent calming him as he listened intently.

"You are a wonderful man and you love Itachi with all your being. I know you still put yourself down for your past mistakes. But you have redeemed yourself, Sasuke-kun. You've changed. You work so hard to protect the village, to protect us. You love our son and I know you can do this. He won't hate you. I won't allow it," she finished.

Sasuke pulled back and nodded, not totally convinced, but at least feeling uplifted by her words. He knew he had to at least try.

"Keeping him at arm's length won't solve the problem and it won't do either of you any good. Besides, I can't be with him every minute of the day , love. I need your help. And when the time comes, he's going to need his father to guide him. You need to start being his father, right now."

The husband sighed, running a hand through his unruly black locks.

"You're right. Okay, I promise you I will try. Go out and have a good time with Yamanaka. I'll handle thighs here."

Sakura smiled and kissed him deeply before taking his hand and dragging him to the nursery.

The parents quietly entered the baby's room.

Sasuke looked at the blue walls and huge Uchiha fan painted on the opposite wall that he'd come home to her painting just four months ago. That was the night she informed him they were having a son, and they decided to name him after Sasuke's deceased brother.

He was snapped out of his remembrance as Sakura easily picked up the fully alert baby boy into her arms, love all over her face as she smiled and made silly faces at her son.

Little Itachi was in a diaper and a little blue shirt with the Uchiha crest on the front. The fact made Sasuke smirk in pride.

"Hello, Itachi, did you gave a good nap?" She jiggled the baby up and down, making the hyperactive boy giggle in delight and wave his little arms. Mother and son laughed heartily together.

Standing on the side, Sasuke could definitely tell Itachi was his mother's son.

He may take after Sasuke in looks, but he has his mother's cheerful demeanor.

"Mommy's going out for a bit with Auntie Ino, but she'll be back soon. You get to spend time with Daddy!"

She turned the baby to face his father.

Sasuke cringed, expecting his son to quarrel back in fear or start crying by the sight of him. But what he did was totally unexpected.

Itachi stared at his father for a few moments, completely focused with those big green eyes of his.

The baby then smiled happily and reached out his chubby little arms to the older Uchiha.

Sasuke's eyes were as big as saucers. His son wanted him to hold him? He wasn't afraid of him like most kids were?

"He's not afraid," the cherry blossom cut in, as if reading his mind. "Because he knows you would never hurt him. Because he loves you as much as you love him. And he's not some random kid in the village, Sasuke-kun. He's your son. He wants to spend time with his daddy."

Sasuke nodded, feeling a little better. He reached out and held his child. He awkwardly held the boy to his chest, gently but securely wrapping protective arms over the fragile little body.

Just like the day he was born, Itachi felt completely and utterly safe and comforted in his father's strong arms. He snuggled into the fabric of Sasuke's black tank top, making happy little noises.

Sakura came and kissed her husband's lips. "See? He adores you, you just need to make the effort to bond with him. Now I have to go, it's almost seven and I promised Ino I'd meet her at the flower shop. I left dinner in the fridge for you. And Itachi was already fed. There's milk ready for him in the kitchen if he gets fussy."

She kissed her baby's messy hair and smiled sweetly. "Bye sweetie! Mommy will be back soon. Be a good boy for Daddy!"

She grabbed her purse and exited the Uchiha compound as Sasuke, still holding their son, saw her off.

Once she was out of sight, he closed the door and sat on the couch, switching on the television.

He held Itachi up to eye level. "I know I'm not the most qualified person to be your dad," he spoke to the baby who giggled at his father. "But I promise you I will try harder from now on to be a good father to you. I love you, son, and I will try."

Sasuke spent a few hours playing with Itachi, he fed him, changed him, then ate his own dinner, and genuinely enjoyed bonding with his son.

Why had he been so afraid to be with his kid? It wasn't that hard.

It was around nine when Itachi fell asleep so the older Uchiha carried the boy to his room, soothingly rubbing his back as he went.

He tenderly placed the boy in his crib, covering his slumbering form with the tiny comforter and leaned down, kissing his forehead softly.

"Sleep well, Itachi," he whispered, carefully exiting the room.

Sasuke sat down to watch tv as he dozed off, thinking how smoothly things had gone.

An hour later, however, the peace was shattered.

The loud crying and screeching of baby Itachi instantly awoke Sasuke, who activated his Sharingan immediately.

He jumped up and ran to the nursery snarling, ready to tear to pieces whoever dared to try and harm his son.

As he entered the dark room, ready to fight off an intruder, he scanned the room, noting it was empty, sans for Itachi wailing in his crib.

The shinobi breathed and relaxed, his eyes returning to their normal onyx hue once he was certain his son was in no danger.

He walked over to the crib and bent to pick up his child.

"Shh, Itachi, you're safe," he whispered. "It's okay."

He walked around the room to try and stop the howling, but his baby just kept crying.

Sasuke had fed him only an hour ago so it wasn't that. His diaper was still clean and he didn't seem to be in any kind of pain.

What was the damn problem then?

"Itachi, stop crying, there's nothing wrong. You are an Uchiha. Uchiha sons do not cry, damn it!" He bit out harshly before he could stop himself due to his mounting frustration.

How the hell did Sakura do this every day?

The boy stopped crying, his puffy green eyes seemingly hurt at his father's shout, snot on his face, and he whimpered before crying even louder and harder than before.

Sasuke immediately felt ashamed and mentally kicked himself. It wasn't the baby's fault.

Why did he always end up hurting those he loved the most?

And, ironically enough, he said the exact same words his father had said to him when he cried after waking from a nightmare when he was only three.

"Enough, Sasuke! It was only a dream, go back to sleep. Stop crying. You are an Uchiha. Uchiha sons do not cry, damn it!" His father snarled before dragging him back to his own room.

The young father shook his head and decided to be patient. He would never turn his son away like that.

I am not Fugaku. I am not my father, he repeated like a mantra in his head.

Sasuke cradled Itachi and let the little one's head rest on his strong shoulder, gently rocking him and apologizing for his earlier words.

"I'm sorry. I didn't mean it," he murmured. "I was just angry. But I would never do anything to hurt you, Son. You probably just miss your mother. But it's alright, Daddy's here."

Sasuke stroked Itachi's little head just like his mother did to him as a child whenever he was upset.

The baby's sobs lessened in intensity little by little.

The Uchiha decided the only thing left to do was walk the halls of the manor with Itachi in his arms. He walked every hallway he could while patting Itachi's back the whole time and whispering soothing words in hopes of calming the restless child.

Almost an hour later, an exhausted Uchiha patriarch returned to the nursery with a child that was sniffing.

He slumped in the rocking chair Naruto had given them as a present at the baby shower.

He pushed and pulled the chair back and forth, absently humming as he did.

It wasn't very manly and it wounded his pride, but he swallowed his pride for once. His son came first.

The crying completely stopped.

Surprised by the sudden silence, Sasuke stopped rocking and humming and looked at his son. Itachi's face contorted and he was about to start wailing again. Before he could, his father quickly began the rocking and humming once more. He watched in awe as his baby's face relaxed into a smile.

His son was actually smiling at him again.

Sasuke continued the gentle rocking and humming, and Itachi yawned.

The father began to quietly sing an old lullaby he vaguely remembers his mother singing to him at night.

The boy's eyes began to droop, and very soon, he was finally asleep again.

Sasuke, although exhausted, continued the rocking and soft singing, all the while thinking that the baby in his arms had the right idea...

Not long after, Sakura walked into the baby's room, wondering where her boys had gone.

But upon arrival, she was shocked but then smiled tenderly at the sight that greeted her: the mighty Sasuke Uchiha, in all his Uchiha glory, asleep in a rocking chair with his son in his arms. His face was truly relaxed and content as his arms curled around baby Itachi protectively, as if guarding his dreams.

Sakura couldn't help it, it was such a beautiful sight thar melted her heart.

She quickly grabbed the camera and snapped a photo of the heart touching scene, forever capturing this moment in time as a lovely memory.

Sasuke, being a light sleeper, heard her approach him.

He opened his eyes, seeing his wife grinning like an idiot at him. He apparently hadn't caught on about the photo, which she hid in her purse.

She leaned down and kissed him. "You look so cute here. And I told you you'd be a great father."

"Hm," he grunted in his trademark response, but pleased with her comment.

He carefully got up and placed the baby in his crib, tenderly watching the rise and fall of his little chest before allowing Sakura to kiss his little head and whisper good night, covering him with his baby blanket and setting the teddy bear next to him.

As they made their way to their bedroom, Sasuke questioned her of her outing with Ino.

She smiled. "It was really fun. We talked and joked and had a great time. I've missed spending time with her. How did things go with Itachi?"

Sasuke shrugged. "Fine."

Satisfied with his answer, she changed into her night gown and crawled into bed.

He was a man of few words but Sakura trusted his words. Besides, the way she found them told her everything she needed to know and more.

Sasuke did so as well and they shared a long, passionate kiss before turning off the bedside lamp.

He wrapped his arms around his wife and pulled her flush against his chest.

With her soothing warmth lulling him to sleep, he breathed contently.

"I'm proud of you, Sasuke-kun. Good night."

The Uchiha grunted softly in response before burying his nose into her hair and allowing his breath to even out.

As he slipped into blissful slumber, he decided it was nice being a father.

Perhaps having a family was what he'd needed all along.

I love these two so much.

So should I continue with a few more drabbles to this story, or end it here?

Let me know in a review! Thanks for reading :)